U.S. patent application number 16/833572 was filed with the patent office on 2020-10-01 for electronic apparatus and connection structure.
The applicant listed for this patent is Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Lijun WANG.
Application Number | 20200315051 16/833572 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004763614 |
Filed Date | 2020-10-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200315051 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WANG; Lijun |
October 1, 2020 |
ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND CONNECTION STRUCTURE
Abstract
An electronic apparatus includes a first body, a second body, a
rotating shaft structure, a connection structure, and a circuit
board. The rotating shaft structure is configured to connect the
first body and the second body. The connection structure includes a
first connection terminal, which is connected to the first body,
and a second connection terminal, which is connected to the second
body. The circuit board is connected to the first connection
terminal and the second connection terminal and configured
non-planarly along an axial direction of the rotating shaft
structure.
Inventors: |
WANG; Lijun; (Beijing,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd. |
Beijing |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004763614 |
Appl. No.: |
16/833572 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1683 20130101;
H05K 7/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H05K 7/02 20060101
H05K007/02; G06F 1/16 20060101 G06F001/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 29, 2019 |
CN |
201910252085.5 |
Claims
1. An electronic apparatus, comprising: a first body; a second
body; a rotating shaft structure, configured to connect the first
body and the second body; a connection structure, including a first
connection terminal connected to the first body, and a second
connection terminal connected to the second body; and a circuit
board, connected to the first connection terminal and the second
connection terminal and configured non-planarly along an axial
direction of the rotating shaft structure.
2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuit board
further comprising: a main body; a first end, located at an end of
the main body; and a second end, located at another end of the main
body.
3. The electronic apparatus of claim 2, the main body having a
first sub-state and a second sub-state, wherein: at the first
sub-state, the main body is deformed to support the connection
structure to have a first length at a configuration direction; and
at the second sub-state, the main body deforms to support the
connection structure have a second length at the configuration
direction.
4. The electronic apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the first
connection terminal is configured at the first end; and the second
connection terminal is configured at the second end.
5. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, the circuit board further
comprising a substrate and a plurality of transmission wires
configured in parallel at the substrate, wherein: the substrate is
a plastic substrate; and two ends of the transmission wires are
connected to the first connection terminal and the second
connection terminal respectively.
6. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, the circuit board having a
first state and a second state, wherein: at the first state, the
connection structure is stretched along the axial direction and has
a first length along a configuration direction of the connection
structure; at the second state, the connection structure is not
stretched along the axial direction and has a second length along
the configuration direction of the connection structure; and the
first length is longer than the second length.
7. The electronic apparatus of claim 6, wherein: in response to the
first body being at a first angle relative to the second body, the
circuit board is at the first state; when the first body is at a
second angle relative to the second body, the circuit board is at
the second state; and the second angle is larger than the first
angle.
8. The electronic apparatus of claim 6, wherein: the circuit board
is spirally configured along the axial direction; or the circuit
board is in a wavy shape along a direction perpendicular to the
axial direction and is configured along the axial direction.
9. The electronic apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the circuit board
has at least two spiral cycles and is spirally configured at the
axial direction; and when the connection structure is at the first
state and the second state, the two adjacent spiral cycles have a
distance from each other.
10. The electronic apparatus of claim 6, wherein: the rotating
shaft structure has an accommodation space at the axial direction,
and the circuit board is located inside the accommodation space and
configured along the axial direction; or the rotating shaft
structure is configured outside a rotating shaft of the rotating
shaft structure along the axial direction.
11. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuit board
is configured along the axial direction and folded into at least
two layers.
12. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotating shaft
structure includes: a first rotating shaft, connected to the first
body; a second rotating shaft, connected to the second body; a
linkage, connected to the first rotating shaft and the second
rotating shaft and configured to cause the first rotating shaft and
the second rotating shaft to rotate simultaneously; a sleeve,
sleeved outside the first rotating shaft and the second rotating
shaft; and the circuit board, configured along the axial direction
of the first rotating shaft, and inside the sleeve along a
perpendicular direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and
along the axial direction of the second rotating shaft.
13. The electronic apparatus of claim of 12, wherein the linkage
includes: a first meshing section connected to the first rotating
shaft and rotating with the first rotating shaft simultaneously; a
second meshing section connected to the second rotating shaft and
rotating with the second rotating shaft simultaneously; and the
first meshing section and the second meshing section meshed by
straight teeth or by spiral teeth.
14. The electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein: the sleeve has a
first through hole and a second through hole, the first rotating
shaft passing through the first through hole, and the second
rotating shaft passing through the second through hole; or the
sleeve is an inverted U-shaped groove, the first rotating shaft and
the second rotating shaft passing through two ends at a bottom of
the groove.
15. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, the rotating shaft
structure further comprising a rotating shaft center and a rotary
drum rotating relative to a center of the rotating shaft, wherein:
a hollow chamber is configured at the center of the rotating shaft
and is an accommodation space; and the rotary drum is configured at
the center of the rotating shaft for the first connection terminal
and the second connection terminal to pass through and be
electrically connected to the first body and the second body,
respectively.
16. A connection structure, comprising: a first connection
terminal; a second connection terminal; a circuit board, connected
to the first connection terminal and the second connection
terminal, and configured non-planarly along a pre-determined
direction.
17. The connection structure of claim 16, wherein the connection
structure is configured to electrically connect a first body and a
second body.
18. The connection structure of claim 17, wherein: the circuit
board has a redundant structure, is the redundant structure being
stretched along the pre-determined direction; when the connection
structure is at a first state, the redundant structure is stretched
at the pre-determined direction, and the connection structure has a
first length along a configuration direction of the connection
structure; when the connection structure is at a second state, the
redundant structure is not stretched at the pre-determined
direction, and the connection structure has a second length along
the configuration direction of the connection structure; and the
first length is longer than the second length.
19. The connection structure of claim 18, wherein: the redundant
structure supports the connection structure at the configuration
direction to telescope; and the redundant structure includes a main
body of the circuit board, the main body being spiral along the
pre-determined direction.
20. The connection structure of claim 18, wherein: the connection
structure is a plate-shape wire including a substrate different
from flexible wires.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent
Application No. 201910252085.5, filed on Mar. 29, 2019, the entire
content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to the technology field of
electronics, more particularly, to a connection structure and an
electronic apparatus.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Electronic devices, such as a notebook or a tablet, can be
opened and closed. An Ultrabook has two relatively rotating parts.
If electrical signals need to be transmitted between these two
parts, they are usually connected by flexible wires. By using the
flexible wires to connect the two parts, when the two parts rotate
relative to each other, connection failures due to stretching of
rigid connection wires can be avoided. However, the flexible wire
is bulky, which is not beneficial for further lightening and
thinning the electronic devices.
SUMMARY
[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic
apparatus, which includes a first body, a second body, a rotating
shaft structure, a connection structure, and a circuit board. The
rotating shaft structure is configured to connect the first body
and the second body. The connection structure includes a first
connection terminal, which is connected to the first body, and a
second connection terminal, which is connected to the second body.
The circuit board is connected to the first connection terminal and
the second connection terminal and configured non-planarly along an
axial direction of the rotating shaft structure.
[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a connection
structure, which includes a first connection terminal, a second
connection terminal, and a circuit board. The circuit board is
connected to the first connection terminal and the second
connection terminal, and configured non-planarly along a
pre-determined direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a first
electronic apparatus according to the embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a second
electronic apparatus according to the embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a connection
structure located at the rotating shaft structure according to the
embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 4A is a schematic structural diagram of a circuit board
provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0010] FIG. 4B is a schematic structural diagram of another circuit
board provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 4C is a schematic structural diagram of another circuit
board provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 4D is a schematic diagram of non-planarly configured
circuit board provided by the embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of a combined structure of a
connection structure and a rotating shaft structure provided by the
embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of a combined structure of
another connection structure and a rotating shaft structure
provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 5C is a schematic diagram of a combined structure of
another connection structure and a rotating shaft structure
provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure; and
[0016] FIG. 6 a schematic structural diagram of an electronic
apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0017] A technical solution of the present disclosure is further
described in detail in connection with accompanying drawings and
specific embodiments.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the embodiments of the
present disclosure provide an electronic apparatus, which includes
a first body 101, a second body 102, a rotating shaft structure 103
configured to connect the first body 101 and the second body 102.
The first body 101 and the second body 102 can rotate relatively. A
connection structure including at least one first connection
terminal 1041 is configured to be connected to the first body 101
and at least one second connection terminal 1042 configured to be
connected to the second body 102. The electronic apparatus further
includes a circuit board 1043 configured to be connected to the
first connection terminal 1041 and the second connection terminal
1042 and be configured non-planarly along an axial direction of the
rotating shaft structure 103.
[0019] The electronic apparatus provided by the embodiments may be
an apparatus of various types that have two bodies. For example,
the electronic apparatus may be a notebook, a tablet having two
bodies, and a two-in-one notebook and tablet.
[0020] In the embodiments, the first body 101 and the second body
102 may be any two structures connected by a rotating shaft.
[0021] In some embodiments, the first body 101 and the second body
102 include housings, respectively. Various structures are
configured at the housings. For example, a display device or an
input device. Some embodiments provide the input device at the
first body 101 and the display device at a second body 102. Some
embodiments provide the first display device at the first body 101
and the second display device at the second body 102. The input
structure includes, but is not limited, to a component having an
input function such as a keyboard, a touchpad, etc. FIG. 6 shows a
schematic structural diagram of the electronic apparatus that both
of the first body 101 and the second body 102 include the display
devices.
[0022] The first display device and the second display device may
include various display screens. For example, according to whether
the display screen can be bent, the display screen may include a
flexible display device and a rigid display device. According to
display principles, the display screen may include a liquid crystal
display device, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display
device, an electronic ink display device, a projection display
device, etc. In some embodiments, the first display device and the
second display device may be two individual devices. In other
embodiments, the first display device and the second display device
may be different display sections of the same display device.
[0023] In some embodiments, the two bodies are physically connected
by the rotating shaft. The first body 101 and the second body 102
can rotate relatively through the rotating shaft structure 103. For
example, an angle between the first body 101 and the second body
102 can be switched from a first angle to a second angle. Assume
that the first angle is 0.degree. and the second angle may be
180.degree. or 360.degree.. FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram when
the angle between the first body 101 and the second body 102 is
more than 90.degree..
[0024] The rotating shaft structure 103 includes one or a plurality
of rotating shafts. If the rotating shaft structure 103 includes a
plurality of rotating shafts, the plurality of rotating shafts may
be configured in parallel positions. That is, the rotating shafts
can be parallel or substantially parallel to each other.
[0025] Directions of the rotating shaft structure 103 may include
an axial direction and a radial direction. The axial direction of
the rotating shaft structure 103 is parallel to an axial direction
of the rotating shaft. The radial direction of the rotating shaft
structure 103 is parallel to a radial direction of the rotating
shaft.
[0026] In some embodiments, the rotating shaft is a cylinder. A
direction, where a radius or a diameter of a cylinder cross-section
is, is the radial direction. The axial direction is perpendicular
to the radial direction and perpendicular to the cylinder circular
cross-section.
[0027] In some embodiments, the connection structure 104 is
configured to construct or support an electrical connection between
the first body 101 and the second body 102. The electrical
connection can be used to transmit various electrical signals. The
electrical signals include but are not limited to power supply
signals and data signals. The data signals may include display
data, etc. for the display device to display.
[0028] The first connection terminal 1041 and the second connection
terminal 1042 both may include terminals capable of transmitting
the power supply signals, such as a gold finger.
[0029] In the embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG.
4C, the circuit board 1043 includes a main body 201, and a first
end 202 and a second end 203 located at two ends of the main body.
At least one first connection terminal 1041 may be configured at
the first end 202, and at least one second connection terminal 1042
may be configured at the second end 203. In the embodiments, when a
number of the first connection terminal 1041 and the second
connection terminal 1042 is more than one, a plurality of the first
connection terminals 1041 are configured in parallel at the first
end 202, and a plurality of the second connection terminals 1042
configured in parallel at the second end 203.
[0030] In the embodiments, a length of the main body of the circuit
board 1043 is longer than a length of the first end 202 or a length
of the second end 203.
[0031] In some embodiments, to place the circuit board 1043 along
the axial direction, at least the main body of the circuit board
1043 is placed along the axial direction.
[0032] In some embodiments, the first connection terminal 1041 and
the second connection terminal 1042 of the connection structure 104
are not configured at the ends of the circuit board 1043. However,
transmission wires of the circuit board 1043 are placed at the ends
of the circuit board 1043 as the flexible wires. Therefore, to
place the circuit board 1043 along the axial direction, the circuit
board 1043 as a whole is placed along the axial direction.
[0033] In some embodiments, if the connection structure 104 is
under a situation without a deformation such as torsion, etc., the
first connection terminals 1041 are configured in parallel along a
long side of the connection structure 104 at the first end 202.
That is, a plurality of the first connection terminals 1041 are
aligned at the end of the connection structure 104. If the
connection structure 104 is under a situation without a deformation
such as torsion, etc., the second connection terminals 1042 are
configured in parallel along the long side of the connection
structure 104 at the second end 203. That is, a plurality of the
second terminals 1042 are aligned at the end of the connection
structure 104.
[0034] The circuit board 1043 may include a substrate and one or a
plurality of transmission wires configured in parallel at the
substrate. The substrate may be a plastic substrate, in some
embodiments may be a flexible substrate or an elastic substrate,
and a thin plate structure. Two ends of the wires are connected to
the first connection terminal 1041 and the second connection
terminal 1042, respectively.
[0035] In some embodiments, the circuit board 1043 is further
configured with an insulation layer. The insulation layer wraps
outside of the transmission wires to implement an insulation and
isolation of the transmission wires from outside.
[0036] In some embodiments, the transmission wires at the circuit
board 1043 can be configured finely and densely. Compared to a
single transmission wire including the flexible wires with an
insulation layer, the number of the transmission wires contained at
the circuit board 1043 in a unit volume is much more than the
number of the flexible wires. In some embodiments, by using the
connection structure 104 containing the circuit board 1043 to
replace the flexible wires to construct the electrical connection
between the first body 101 and the second body 102, for the design
of the electronic device may be lighter and thinner.
[0037] In some embodiments, the circuit board 1043 is configured
along the rotating shaft and non-planarly along the axial
direction. That is, the circuit board 1043 is not configured
planarly along the axial direction.
[0038] The non-planar configuration includes, but is not limited
to, a curved configuration or a bent configuration. For example,
FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C are bent configurations along the axial
direction. FIG. 4D is a curved configuration along the axial
direction.
[0039] For example, after the circuit board 1043 is configured
along the axial direction, the circuit board 1043 at the
cross-section perpendicular to the axial direction is a polyline or
a curved line.
[0040] The polyline may include a L-shaped polyline, a V-shaped
polyline, etc. The curved line includes a regular curved line such
as various types of arcs, etc., or an irregular curved line such as
a wave line, etc. For example, the curved line may be an O-shaped
curved line, a U-shaped curved line, an arc of an outer arc of a
sector, etc. With reference to FIG. 4D, a cross-section of the main
body of the circuit board along an axis is the U-shaped curved
line.
[0041] In some embodiments, the circuit board 1043 may be a
flexible printed circuit (FPC). The FPC can have flexible
deformation with an action of external force. After the external
force is canceled, the flexible circuit board may maintain the
flexible deformation caused by the external force and may also
recover part of the deformation. However, the flexible circuit is
generally unable to recover to an original state.
[0042] If the circuit board 1043 is the flexible circuit, the
circuit board 1043 can be curled at the cross-section perpendicular
to the axial direction to form one or a plurality of curled rings.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the circuit board of the
connection structure 104 spirally configured in an accommodation
space formed at a center of the rotating shaft of the rotating
shaft structure.
[0043] In some embodiments, the circuit board 1043 may also be a
non-flexible circuit board, such as an elastic circuit board 1043.
The elastic circuit 1043 may have an elastic deformation with an
added external force. The elastic deformation disappears
automatically when the external force is removed, such that the
elastic circuit board 1043 returns to the original state.
[0044] In other embodiments, the circuit board 1043 may be a rigid
circuit board 1043. During a manufacturing process, the rigid
circuit board 1043 is shaped into an above-mentioned specific shape
configured as a non-curved surface.
[0045] In some embodiments, the electronic apparatus uses the
connection structure 104, which contains a circuit board 1043, to
replace the flexible wires to electrically connect the first body
101 and the second body 102. By using characteristics of the
transmission wires of the circuit board 1043 being configured
densely, the electronic apparatus can be designed lighter and
thinner. Further, by using the connection structure 104 containing
the connection terminals to build the connection between the first
body 101 and the second body 102, when the electronic apparatus is
assembled, the assembly task does not need to focus on the
connection of the flexible wires, but one-time plug and unplug of
the connection structure 104 including a plurality of connection
terminals can be realized, thereby simplifying assembly of the
electronic apparatus. In addition, in the embodiments, the circuit
board 1043 is configured non-planarly along the axial direction of
the rotating shaft structure 103 to use any non-planar
accommodation space along the axial direction to configure a
connection board. This is beneficial for lightening and thinning
the electronic apparatus. Since the non-planar configuration of the
circuit board 1043 along the axial direction can enlarge the area
of the circuit board 1043, the area of the circuit board 1043 is
enlarged without changing a dimension of the transmission wires.
More transmission wires can be configured at the circuit board
1043, and the more first connection terminals 1041 and the second
connection terminals 1042 at the two ends may also be configured.
When there are many electrical connections between the first body
101 and the second body 102, and the circuit board 1043 occupies as
little space of the electronic apparatus as possible, the circuit
board 1043 can realize the multiple connections of the first body
101 and the second body 102.
[0046] In some embodiments, the circuit board 1043 has a first
state and a second state. At the first state, the connection
structure 104 is stretched along the axial direction and has a
first length along a configuration direction of the connection
structure 104. At the second state, the connection structure 104 is
not stretched along the axial direction and has a second length
along the configuration direction of the connection structure 104.
The first length is longer than the second length.
[0047] In some embodiments, the connection structure 104 has at
least two states. At the first state, external force may exist to
stretch the circuit board 1043, such that the connection structure
104 has a first length along the configuration direction based on
elastic deformation, flexible deformation that can partially
recover, or redundant structure design. At the second state, the
external force for stretching the connection structure 104 is
cancelled, the connection structure 104 switches a configuration
length along the configuration direction to a second length based
on the elastic deformation, flexible deformation that can partially
recover, etc.
[0048] In the embodiments, the external force may be applied by the
first body 101 or the second body 102.
[0049] In some embodiments, the configuration direction of the
connection structure 104 includes a configuration direction of the
main body of the circuit board 1043, a configuration direction of
the at least one first connection terminal 1041 at the first end
202, and a configuration direction of the at least one second
connection terminal 1042 at the second end 203. The configuration
direction of the circuit board 1043 is at the axial direction of
the rotating shaft, and the configuration directions of the first
end 202 and the second end 203 may be opposite and perpendicular to
the configuration direction (i.e., the axial direction) of the main
body of the circuit board 1043.
[0050] By rotating the first body 101 and the second body 102 based
on the rotating shaft structure 103, the angle between the first
body 101 and the second body 102 is different. Through a latch or
contact of the connection terminals, the connection structure 104
forming the electrical connection between the first body 101 and
the second body 102 may be stretched at some certain positions,
such that the first body 101 or the second body apply the external
force to the connection structure 104 to switch the connection
structure 104 between the first state and the second state.
[0051] Correspondingly, the main body of the circuit board 1043 has
a first sub-state and a second sub-state. When the connection
structure 104 is at the first sub-state, the main body of the
circuit board 1043 is at the first sub-state. At this point, the
main body of the circuit board 1043 is deformed to cause the
connection structure 104 to have the first length at the overall
configuration direction. When the connection structure 104 is at
the second sub-state, the main body of the circuit board 1043 is at
the second sub-state. At this point, the circuit board 1043 is
deformed to recover at least partially from the deformed state,
such that the circuit board 1043 reduces the length of the
connection structure 104 at the overall configuration direction.
The connection structure 104 has the second length. In some
embodiments, the first end 202 including the at least one first
connection terminal 1041 and the second end 203 including the at
least one second connection terminal 1042 are not deformed.
[0052] In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4C, the first end 202
including the at least a first connection terminal 1041 and the
second end 203 including the at least a second connection terminal
1042 are configured with redundant structures, which have a third
sub-state and a fourth sub-state. When the connection structure 104
is at the first state, the redundant structures have the third
sub-state and are deformed to cause the connection structure 104 to
have the first length at the overall configuration direction. When
the connection structure 104 is at the second state, the redundant
structures have the fourth sub-state and are deformed to recover
fully or partially, such that the connection structure 104 has the
second length shorter than the first length at the overall
configuration direction.
[0053] The connection structure 104 provided by the embodiments of
the present disclosure has at least two states, which can satisfy
the lengths required by the electrical connection when the two
bodies are at different relative positions. When the connection
structure 104 has only a single length, the single length cannot
satisfy the maximal length required by the two bodies at a specific
angle. Therefore, the single length may cause an unstable
electrical connection and damage by bundling or stretching the
wires. By having at least two states, the connection structure 104
reduces the problems related to the single length situation.
[0054] In some embodiments, when the first body 101 is at a first
angle relative to the second body 102, the connection structure 104
is at the first state. When the first body 101 is at a second angle
relative to the second body 102, the connection structure 104 is at
the second state. The second angle is larger than the first
angle.
[0055] In some embodiments, the first angle may be an angle, at
which the first body 101 and the second body 102 are engaged, and
the first angle may be assumed to be 0.degree.. The second angle
may be any angle larger than the first angle, for example,
180.degree.. If the two bodies are at 180.degree., and the first
body 101 and the second body 102 are located at a same plane.
[0056] In some embodiments, the first angle is 0.degree., and the
second angle may be 360.degree..
[0057] In some embodiments, the circuit board 1043 is spirally
configured along the axial direction.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 4B, the circuit board 1043 is spirally
configured along the axial direction, which causes the circuit
board 1043 to have a plurality of spiral cycles. Distance changes
between the spiral cycles or radius changes of the spiral cycles
can change the length of the connection structure 104 at the
configuration direction.
[0059] In some embodiments, the circuit board 1043 is in a wavy
shape along a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and
configured along the axial direction. FIG. 4A shows that the
circuit board 1043 is in the wavy shape along the axial
direction.
[0060] In some embodiments, the circuit board 1043 is in the wavy
shape. The wavy shape is constituted by a plurality of arcs with a
same wavy degree and may also be constituted by a plurality of arcs
with different wavy degrees.
[0061] In some embodiments, the rotating shaft structure 103 has an
accommodation space at the axial direction. The circuit board 1043
is located in the accommodation space and configured along the
axial direction.
[0062] For example, the rotating shaft structure 103 includes a
rotating shaft center and a rotary drum rotating relative to the
center of the rotating shaft. A hollow chamber is placed at the
center of the rotating shaft. The hollow chamber is the
accommodation space, and for better use of the space of the
electronic apparatus, the circuit board 1043 is placed in the
accommodation space and configured along the axial direction. The
rotary drum is opened at the center of the rotating shaft for the
first connection terminal 1041 and the second connection terminal
1042 to pass through and be electrically connected to the first
body 101 and the second body 102, respectively.
[0063] In some embodiments, the rotating shaft structure 103 is
configured along the axial direction outside the rotating shaft of
the rotating shaft structure 103.
[0064] In some embodiments, some rotating shaft centers have very
small volumes, and no hollow chamber is configured at the rotating
shaft centers. That is, the rotating shaft is a solid shaft. The
circuit board 1043 may be configured along the axial direction
outside the rotating shaft.
[0065] For example, the circuit board 1043 is a flexible circuit
board, and the flexible circuit board is configured around the
rotating shaft and along the axial direction.
[0066] In some embodiments, the circuit board 1043 has at least two
spiral cycles and is spirally configured along the axial direction.
When the connection structure 104 is at the first state and the
second state, the two adjacent spiral cycles overlap partially with
each other.
[0067] In some embodiments, the connection structure 104 has two
states. The circuit board 1043 is spirally configured along the
axial direction rotates to form a spiral cycle. In these
embodiments, when the connection structure 104 switches between the
first state and the second state, the two adjacent spiral cycles of
the circuit board 1043 overlap partially with each other, and
difference is merely dimension changes at an overlapped part. If
the connection structure 104 is at the first state and the second
state, the two adjacent spiral cycles maintain overlapping to
reduce damage of the circuit board 1043 due to friction between two
adjacent spiral cycle boundaries.
[0068] When the connection structure 104 is at the first state, the
circuit board 1043, overlapping portion of the two adjacent spiral
cycles of the circuit board 1043 is a first measurement. When the
connection structure 104 is at the second state, the overlapping
portion of the two adjacent spiral cycles of the circuit board 1043
is a second measurement. The first measurement is smaller than the
second measurement. Increase from the first measurement to the
second measurement causes the connection structure 104 to be
reduced from the first length to the second length at the
configuration direction.
[0069] In some embodiments, the circuit board 1043 has the at least
two spiral cycles and is spirally configured along the axial
direction. The two adjacent spiral cycles have distances, when the
connection structure 104 is at the first state and the second
state. Since any two adjacent spiral cycles have the distances,
when the connection structure 104 is at the first state and the
second state, the boundaries of the two adjacent spiral cycles do
not have mutual friction. This reduces the damage to the circuit
board 1043.
[0070] When the connection structure 104 is at the first state, the
distance between the two spiral cycles of the circuit board 1043 is
a first distance. When the connection structure 104 is at the
second state, the distance between the two spiral cycles of the
circuit board 1043 is a second distance. The first distance is
shorter than the second distance. Increase of the first distance to
the second distance causes the connection structure 104 to reduce
the first distance to the second distance at the configuration
direction.
[0071] In some embodiments, part of the circuit board 1043, which
is configured along the axial direction, has at least two layers.
The two layers of the circuit board 1043 may be two layers formed
by injection molding or may be at least two layers formed by
folding after the circuit board 1043 is produced. At this point,
the part of the circuit board 1043 configured along the axial
direction is folded to form the at least two layers.
[0072] In other embodiments, the circuit board 1043 provides
configuration positions for the transmission wires through the
substrate. A thickness of the substrate can be made very small. At
one aspect, the small thickness of the substrate facilitates a
spiral configuration or a wavy configuration at the axial direction
of the rotating shaft structure 103, and at another aspect, when
the number of the first connection terminals 1041 and the second
connection terminals 1042 is many, the circuit board 1043 can be
folded to multiple layers to reduce single layer area of the
circuit board 1043.
[0073] For example, assuming that the connection board include the
number N first connection terminals 1041 and the number N second
connection terminals 1042, if the connection board is tilted at a
circuit board 1043, the circuit board 1043 is caused to be wide at
a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the
connection terminals, and at this point, to reduce a width of the
circuit board 1043, at least the main body 201 of the circuit board
1043 can be folded, such that the width of the main body 201 is at
least reduced.
[0074] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, and FIG.
5C, the rotating shaft structure 103 includes a first rotating
shaft 1031, a second rotating shaft 1032, a linkage component 1033,
a sleeve 1034, and the circuit board 1043. The first rotating shaft
1031 is connected to the first body 101. The second rotating shaft
1032 is connected to the second body 102. The linkage component
1033 is connected to the first rotating shaft 1031 and the second
rotating shaft 1032, and configured to cause the first rotating
shaft 1031 and the second rotating shaft 1032 to rotate
simultaneously. The sleeve 1034 is sleeved outside of the first
rotating shaft 1031 and the second rotating shaft 1032. The circuit
board 1043 is configured along the axial direction of the first
rotating shaft 1031, and inside the sleeve 1034 along a
perpendicular direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and
along the axial direction of the second rotating shaft 1032.
[0075] In some embodiments, the rotating shaft structure 103 is a
dual-rotating-shaft structure 103. The first rotating shaft 1031 is
connected to the first body 101. The second rotating shaft 1032 is
configured in parallel to the first rotating shaft 1031 and
connected to the second body 102.
[0076] In some embodiments, the rotating shaft structure 103
further includes a linkage 1033, and the linkage 1033 cause the
first rotating shaft 1031 and the second rotating shaft 1032 to
rotate simultaneously.
[0077] For example, the linkage 1033 includes a first meshing
section fixedly connected to the first rotating shaft 1031 and
rotating with the first rotating shaft 1031 simultaneously, a
second meshing section fixedly connected to the second rotating
shaft 1032 and rotating with the second rotating shaft 1032
simultaneously.
[0078] The first meshing section and the second meshing section may
be meshed by straight teeth, or may be meshed by helical teeth. In
some embodiments, if the first rotating shaft 1031 is a driving
shaft, the first meshing section rotates with the first rotating
shaft 1031, and the second meshing section rotates based on the
meshing with the first meshing section and drives the second
rotating shaft 1032 to rotate. In some embodiments, the driving
shaft may also be the second rotating shaft 1032, and a driven
shaft may be the first rotating shaft 1031.
[0079] In some embodiments, the rotating shaft structure 103
further includes a sleeve 1034. The sleeve 1034 is at the outside
of the first rotating shaft 1031 and the second rotating shaft
1032. In one aspect, the sleeve can protect the first rotating
shaft 1031 and the second rotating shaft 1032 by buffering
collisions. In another aspect, if the first rotating shaft 1031 and
the second rotating shaft 1032 are relatively long, when the
linkage 1033 is placed only at one or multiple certain positions,
the sleeve 1034 also supports the two rotating shafts and reduces
problems of unnecessary deformation of the two rotating shafts due
to small supporting force provided by the two rotating shafts.
[0080] In some embodiments, the circuit board 1043 is configured
along the axial directions of the first rotating shaft 1031 and the
second rotating shaft 1032. For example, the circuit board 1043 is
spirally wrapped at the outside of the first rotating shaft 1031
and the second rotating shaft 1032, and when crossing the two
rotating shafts, is configured at a direction of the sleeve 1034.
The sleeve 1034 is configured to hide the circuit board 1043 and
protect the circuit board 1043.
[0081] The sleeve 1034 has a plurality of structures, and following
two options are available.
[0082] First, the sleeve 1034 has a first through hole and a second
through hole. The first rotating shaft 1031 passes through the
first through hole, and the second rotating shaft 1032 passes
through the second through hole.
[0083] Second, the sleeve is an inverted U-shaped groove, and the
first rotating shaft 1031 and the second rotating shaft 1032 pass
through two ends at the bottom of the groove.
[0084] As shown in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4B, the embodiments provide a
connection structure, which includes at least one first connection
terminal, at least one second connection terminal, a circuit board
connected to the at least one first connection terminal and the at
least one second connection terminal and configured non-planarly
along a pre-determined direction.
[0085] In some embodiments, the non-planar configuration includes,
but is not limited to, the above-mentioned bent configuration or
curved configuration. As shown in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C, the main body
of the circuit board is the bent configurations. FIG. 4D shows that
the main body of the circuit board is the curved configuration.
[0086] The non-planar configuration, in one aspect, can use space
at the pre-determined direction to enlarge the area of the circuit
board, such that more transmission wires or connection terminals
can be configured to implement a configuration of a large amount of
the transmission wires or connection terminals. In another aspect,
compared to the flexible wires, the connection structure has
characteristics of small volume and high wire density per unit
area.
[0087] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG.
4C, the circuit board has the redundant structure, which can be
stretched along the pre-determined direction. When the connection
structure is at the first state, the redundant structure is
stretched at the pre-determined direction, and the connection
structure has the first length along the configuration direction of
the connection structure. When the connection structure is at the
second state, the redundant structure is not stretched at the
pre-determined direction, and the connection structure has the
second length along the configuration direction of the connection
structure. The first length is longer than the second length.
[0088] The configuration direction refers to an overall
configuration direction of the main body of the circuit board, the
first end, and the second end.
[0089] In embodiments of the present disclosure, the redundant
structure can support the telescoping of the length of the
connection structure at the configuration direction. When the first
body and the second body, which used the connection structure to
form the electrical connection, rotate, the redundant structure of
the connection structure can provide a length required by rotation
and stretching. The stretching friction formed by relative movement
of the first body and the second body due to a fixed length is
reduced, and service lifetime of the connection structure is
extended. A stability of the electrical connection of the
electronic apparatus, which uses the connection structure to
electrically connect the first body and the second body, is
reduced.
[0090] In embodiments of the present disclosure, the redundant
structure further includes the main body of the circuit board,
which is spiral along the pre-determined direction. As shown in
FIG. 4B, the main body of the circuit board is spiral. Extension
directions of the plurality of spiral cycles are the same, that is,
the pre-determined direction.
[0091] As shown in FIG. 4A, in some embodiments, the redundant
structure includes the main body of the circuit board, which is in
a wavy shape along a direction perpendicular to the pre-determined
direction.
[0092] With reference to FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C, the first end 202 of
the circuit board is configured with the at least one first
connection terminal. The second end 203 of the circuit board is
configured with the at least one second connection terminal. The
first end 202 and the second end 203 are located at two opposite
ends of the main body of the circuit board.
[0093] In some embodiments, with reference to FIG. 4C, the
redundant structures are located at the first end and the second
end but not located at the main body of the circuit board.
[0094] The connection structure provided by the embodiments may be
a plate-shape wire including the substrate and different from the
flexible wires, uses the circuit board to provide the transmission
wires and the connection terminals, and can reduce a space volume
required by the electrical connection compared to the flexible
wires.
[0095] At the same time, the circuit board provided by the
embodiments is configured with the redundant structure. The
redundant structure can provide an extra length required by the
relative rotation of the two bodies, which are connected by the
electrical connection of the connection structure, and implement
the stable electrical connection between the two bodies.
[0096] In some embodiments provided by the present disclosure, the
disclosed apparatus and method can be implemented in different
manners. The above-mentioned apparatus embodiments are merely
illustrative, for example, the unit division is merely a logical
function division and may have other division methods in practical
applications, such as a plurality of units or components can be
combined or can be integrated into another system, or some
characteristics may be omitted or not be performed. Coupling,
direct coupling, or communication connection between the components
shown or discussed may be through some interfaces, indirect
coupling or communication connection of the device or unit, and may
be electrical, mechanical, or in other forms.
[0097] The units described above as separate components may or may
not be physically separated, and the components displayed as units
may or may not be physical units, that is, may be located in one
place or distributed to multiple network units. According to actual
needs, some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the
purpose of the solution of the embodiments.
[0098] In addition, in the embodiments of the present disclosure,
the functional units may be all integrated into one processing
module, or each unit may be separately used as a unit, or two or
more units may be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned
integrated unit can be implemented in the form of hardware, or in
the form of combinations of hardware and software functional
units.
[0099] Those of ordinary skill in the art may understand that all
or part of the processes of the above-mentioned method embodiments
may be completed by a hardware related to a program instruction.
The above-mentioned program may be stored in a computer-readable
storage medium. When the program is executed, the processes
included in the method embodiments are executed. The
above-mentioned storage medium includes various media that can
store program codes, such as a mobile storage device, a read-only
memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, an
optical disk, etc.
[0100] The above-mentioned embodiments are merely specific
implementations of the present disclosure, but the scope of the
present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned
embodiments. Within the technical scope disclosed in the present
disclosure, any skilled in the art can easily think of changes or
replacements, which are in the scope of the present disclosure.
Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure shall be subject to
the scope of the claims.
* * * * *